. Birds & nature. Birds; Natural history. THB AMERICAN CROSS MERICAN CROSSBILLS are notable for their small size, being considered and described as dwarfs of the family. Their food consists exclnsively of pine, fir, and larch, which accounts for the fact that they are more numerous in Northern latitudes where these trees abound. When the cones are abundant they visit in great numbers many places where they have not been for years, appearing at irregular intervals, and not confining themselves to particular localities. They are very social even dur- ing the nesting season. Their nest
. Birds & nature. Birds; Natural history. THB AMERICAN CROSS MERICAN CROSSBILLS are notable for their small size, being considered and described as dwarfs of the family. Their food consists exclnsively of pine, fir, and larch, which accounts for the fact that they are more numerous in Northern latitudes where these trees abound. When the cones are abundant they visit in great numbers many places where they have not been for years, appearing at irregular intervals, and not confining themselves to particular localities. They are very social even dur- ing the nesting season. Their nests are built among the branches of the fir trees, and there they disport themselves gaily, climbing nimbly, and assisting their movements, as parrots do, with their beaks. They will hang downward for minutes cling- ing to a twig or cone, seeming to enjoy this apparently uncomfortable position. They fly rapidly, but never to a great distance. " The pleasure they experi- ence in the society of their mates is often displayed by fluttering over the tops of the trees as they sing, after which they hover fora time, and then sink slowly to their perch. In the day time they are generally in motion, with the exception of a short time at noon. During the spring, summer and autumn they pass their time in flying from one plantation to ; The Crossbill troubles itself but little about the other inhabitants of the woods, and is said to be almost fearless of man. Should the male lose his mate, he will remain sorrowfully perched upon the branch from which his little companion has fallen ; again and again visit the spot in the hope of finding her; indeed it is only after repeated proofs that she will never return that he begins to show any symptoms of shyness. In feeding the Crossbill perches upon a cone with its head downwards, or lays the cone upon a branch and stands upon it, holding it fast with his sharp, strong pointed claws. Sometimes it will bite off a cone and carry it
Size: 1460px × 1712px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectnaturalhistory
